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Butera Named Class A-1 Player Of The Year

Jamestown’s Jaylen Butera P-J file photo

Jaylen Butera turned in a highlight-reel junior season for the Jamestown football team, and he has been rewarded for his performance.

The running back/safety has been named the Class A-1 Player of the Year, one of seven Jamestown players to earn first-team honors after the Red Raiders posted a 6-1 record and earned a berth in the Section VI Class A championship game.

How good was Butera?

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder rushed for 1,165 yards on 101 carries and scored 19 touchdowns. He surpassed 200 yards in his last three games, including 262 yards on just 13 carries and five touchdowns against Williamsville South in the sectional semifinal, and 252 yards on 32 carries and one TD in the sectional final against South Park. He even caught a TD pass and threw for another. Defensively, he recorded 59 tackles, broke up 11 passes, intercepted another and had four tackles for loss.

“We all kind of expected that he would be an elite player,” said Jamestown head coach Tom Langworthy, who was named the Class A-1 Coach of the Year, “and he’s certainly lived up to it.”

Joining Butera on the first team are sophomore quarterback Trey Drake; senior wide receiver Elijah Rojas; junior offensive lineman Julian McGaughy; senior linebacker Demarri Jones; senior defensive back Markell Carter; and senior defensive lineman Jadiel Johnson.

Drake, who threw for at least two touchdowns in every game, completed 73 of 123 passes for 1,096 yards and 17 TDs. He was intercepted only twice. Twelve of Drake’s scoring strikes went to Rojas, who finished with 33 receptions for 499 yards.

McGaughy anchored an offensive line that blocked effectively for both the run and the pass as the offense averaged 44 points and nearly 400 yards per game.

Defensively, Jones recorded 31 tackles, including 10 for loss, despite missing a couple games with an injury. He also had five sacks and 10 hurries. Carter collected 37 tackles, including three for loss, and had one interception; and Johnson amassed 78 tackles, three sacks and 28 hurries.

Second-team selections include: junior offensive lineman Nick Miraglia, junior offensive lineman Joey Delgado; and junior linebackers Drayce Garland and Ben Anderson.

Honorable-mention recognition went to seniors Kameron Melendez, Takye Branch, Cam’ron Mays, Andrew Harrier and Carter Eganski; and junior Caleb Bane.

The 6-1 season was all under Langworthy’s watch. After 13 seasons with the Red Raiders, he has compiled a 79-43 record. This year’s lone loss was a one-pointer in the sectional final.

“Competitors don’t always win,” he said after the setback. “Competitors always compete. We competed. I’m proud of our guys. We’re a little numb right now, but all you can do is your best. I know the kids gave their best, the coaches gave their best, and that’s all you can do.”

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